Crêpes Suzette Cake (gluten-free)

Once upon a time there was a girl who’d never made a crêpe.

This same girl also had a dream of one day making a cake made of crêpes.

An insurmountable dream?

I think not.

First off….. (before I get into the cake recipe) I wanted to apologize for my lack of blogging and absence from the interwebs. It has been a rough couple of months around here, and I just haven’t had it in me to blog about it all. Just writing about baked goods seemed too frivolous during a time of heartbreak and stress that surrounded our family and nearly drowned me.
My beautiful daughter has been battling some clinical depression, which ended up going further than it should have and has taken us to a place we never thought we’d be as a family. We have battled through many tears, sleepless nights, worry that had the heaviness of a thousand pounds on my chest, and just plain exhaustion.
I have also been avoiding writing anything about it on the blog, because sometimes mental illness comes with a crazy stigma, but I’ve recently realized that the support that comes along with sharing our story is worth way more than the worry about some silly stigma.
Our daughter is getting the help she needs, with the support of wonderful health care professionals from the Windsor Teen Health Center and from her wonderful husband and family. We are all working to heal and move forward.
Your love and prayers are always appreciated.

Ok, now to tell you about this crazy cake.
I was asked to do a guest post for Hanna’s Places that included the use of citrus fruit, and I decided that I needed to try my hand at using oranges. I have used so many lemons in the last year that I just couldn’t fathom even using another one for a guest blog post, and I do adore the orange, so that was that.
As my mind raced as I debated what to make with oranges, I decided that I needed to pull out all the stops and make a showstopper of a cake. Most of the cakes I make are of the ordinary kind, with a southern influence and a cake-lady kind of feel to them, but this time needed to be different. But, different how?
CRÊPES!!!
I have ALWAYS wanted to make a crêpe cake, and now was my chance.
About 8 years ago I purchased a beautiful french crêpes pan from Williams-Sonoma, which is actually the only thing I’ve ever bought from that wonderful store. I considered getting rid of my little french pan when we moved homes a year ago, but I vowed to eventually pull it out and try my hand at the delicate little pancakes.
With fear and trepidation I searched for the best gluten-free crêpes recipe I could find, pulled up my big-girl pants and embarked on a mission. To say that they were easy peasy is a grand understatement.
Making crêpes is SUPER DUPER easy!! I didn’t even break one! Go me!!

This recipe involves a few steps, so make sure to read through all the steps and see which ones you can do ahead of time with the schedule you have. You can easily makes the crêpes (gluten free or not) even weeks ahead of time, and the pastry cream can easily be made a few days before you assemble the cake. You can also make your orange slices and Grand Marnier sauce beforehand, and then just assemble the cake the morning you plan to serve it. There is no part of this recipe that is difficult, but it is a little time consuming with the several steps that need to be taken.

It’s time to make the pastry cream and the candied orange slices.
The custard will need to cool before you use it, and the orange slices will need to dry out a little after they are cooked.

In a medium bowl whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and GF flour. In a medium saucepan whisk together the milk and the scraped vanilla pods and the seeds. Bring to a simmer, turn off the heat, set aside and allow to steep for 1/2 hour. Bring the milk back to a simmer and then slowly pour into the egg yolks while whisking quite vigorously. Once you’ve whisked all the milk into the egg yolks, pour the entire mixture back into your saucepan and cook on low heat while stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens to the consistency of pudding and coats the back of your spoon. Strain the custard through a fine mesh strainer into a medium bowl, discard the vanilla pods, and place a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the custard to form a skin. Chill until set, at least 2 hours. This can be made a day or two in advance. Once the custard has set and you’re ready to assemble the cake, beat the whipping cream and the powdered sugar until stiff peaks form, and gently fold the whipped cream together with the custard. Use immediately.

In a large skillet heat the water and sugar until it boils. Add the orange slices and simmer over medium heat, turning occasionally, until the liquid is reduced to a thin syrup and the oranges are slightly translucent. About 20 minutes. Set the oranges on a cooling rack set over parchment paper. Allow to cool. Sprinkle both sides of the orange slices with generous amounts of granulated sugar. Allow to set. Orange slices can be kept sealed in the fridge for up to a week.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and the salt. Add the butter and the eggs and whisk until well blended. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking as you go, to make a thin batter. For best results, make the batter and chill for a couple of hours before making the crêpes, even for a couple of days if needed. Heat a crêpe pan (or another type of frying pan) and brush with melted butter. Pour 1/3 of a cup of batter onto the pan and tilt the pan to coat evenly. Cook for 1-2 minutes on medium heat until the edges are crisp and the surface of the crêpe is set. Using an offset spatula gently flip the crêpe and cook for another 20-30 seconds. Remove from the heat and place onto parchment paper. With the remaining crêpes, cook them and then stack them with parchment paper in-between each one. You can make the crêpes ahead of time and then assemble the cake the following day, or freeze them and thaw them out later for use at another time. Allow the crêpes to cool.
Makes about 30 crêpes.

Combine the butter, sugar, citrus juices, and zest to a small saucepan and cook for about 10 minutes until it reaches 180-200F, or until is slightly caramelizes. It should be a golden color. Remove from heat, add the Grand Marnier, return to the heat and continue to whisk and simmer for another 2 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Assembling the cake~

Place a crêpe on a cake board or cake plate and spoon 2 tbsp. of pastry cream onto it. Spread the cream thinly and cover with another crêpe. Repeat this process until you’ve used all the crêpes or all of the pastry cream. The top crêpe doesn’t get covered in pastry cream.
Cover and chill the cake for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until set.
Pour a generous amount of Orange Butter over the entire cake, allowing to drip down the sides. Decorate the top of the cake with the candied orange slices and sprinkle the entire cake with sifted icing sugar.

Before I send you off with good wishes and salutations, I just wanted to let you know that I may have some good news coming up soon, if everything goes as planned. I am currently working with a local restaurant to put together a menu featuring some of my gluten-free desserts, and I also have a few other businesses looking to buy wholesale from me. I am also starting to look for a suitable commercial kitchen and retail space where I can meet the people of Windsor on a daily basis to serve up yummy treats, ice cream sandwiches and a cup of steaming hot chocolate.

Definitely, go you!! Oh my goodness there are not words. Such a lovely, beautiful post. I’m sorry you’ve been having such a rough go.. Difficulties of that nature are consuming, glad to hear things are on the mend. Hugs and prayers all around.. I can’t think of a better way to get back into the swing of things than with a cake like this.. Perfection.

Michele, just hopped on over after repinning your recipe from Maria (love her!) at Pinterest. Boy am I ever glad I clicked on thru to see ‘the face behind the blog’. I am completely enamored with your food work and photography! Stunningly beautiful. I love that you are a lover of black and white photography as well as cats as fur babies. (We have two Bombays, a boy and a girl.) Thanks ever so much for sharing. Sending lots of hugs and love as well as prayers your way for strength to get you, your daughter and your family through these tough emotional times. I look forward to reading future posts as I am now following your blog via Bloglovin’. Have a wonderful rest of the week! xo

Sending lots of positive vibes to Emilie and your family. She’s a lucky girl to have such a caring and loving family around her. Cake doesn’t fix everything, but it’s a good place to start. x

Kelly J

I am struck by your strength to keep going, support your daughter, and hang in there as a family. As a mental health professional, I know how hard this struggle is but you’re not alone. Thousand of families are in the same struggle. Hang in there. You’re doing good work. Your daughter is alive and will continue to win in this struggle. We ares ending you thoughts and prayers.

So sorry to hear of your daughter’s illness but also glad to know that she’s doing better. Hope she gets well soon and you have only beautiful moments together.
And also I wanted to say that you have a wonderful blog and I love all your posts and photography. Thank you and have a nice day.

I must tell that I gasped when I came across this photo (must have been Foodgawker). My daughter’s birthday is coming up and I just couldn’t nail a good dessert idea. She LOVES crepes. This simple but elegant crepe cake is right up her alley. I just had to tell you that you inspired me to make this for her this weekend. Thank you!

michele

Thanks so much for getting in touch and letting me know you’re excited to make my cake! Please let me know if you daughter loves it

I have never understood the distinction between physical and mental illness. After all we are just people aren’t we and isn’t it all connected? but unfortunately there is a stigma attached. Depression is a long hard battle and yes it is a battle and can be life long. I’m glad to hear your daughter is receiving the help she needs. Having the help of a loving and supportive family can make all the difference and so many of us do not. My thoughts are with you all.

What an absolutely gorgeous blog you have here. Your photographs are stunning! I am so sorry to hear about what you’ve been going through with your daughter. I know — firsthand — how difficult it is. I suffered through severe depression and anxiety all through my young adulthood. I hope that your daughter is doing alright and that your family is coming through all of this. It is such a painful thing to come through. However, there is so much hope and so much light on the other side of it. You are all in my thoughts & prayers. xo

The cake looks wonderful. I have to try the version of the pastry cream with whipped cream instead of butter cream I usually make.
Wishing you and your family to get through difficult times. Serious health issues change our world dramatically, and we all have to learn how to live with them. Family support and understanding makes enormous difference. I have also found, that cooking and particularly baking, give sometimes necessary reprieve and give extra resources to get through.
All the best Irena

Kimberly

Came upon your recipe and blog by accident but have truly enjoyed. Thanks for sharing your words, experiences, and recipes. As you have shown life can throw punches that take our breath away and when we strive to go on or take a breath as we must, something beautiful can come of it. There is always hope. God bless your daughter,you, your daughters family and yours as well. I will be making this crepe cake for my next adventure! Thanks!

Jennelle

I am a pastry chef and this is a beautiful cake and I am very eccited to try it, I am glad your daughter is getting the help she needs and I hope everything continues to get better with your family and your career, good luck and best wishes. I will continue to follow your blog

These are so impressive! Wow! I would love to take a big bite of these! You did an amazing job!

Paulette

Hi Michele, I stumbled upon your blog tonight and am quite happy that I did It’s exciting to find a fellow Windsorite’s blog, especially one as lovely as yours.
Your crêpe cake looks absolutely fantastic, although I don’t know that I’d have the courage to try to make it. lol
I’m sorry your daughter, as well as the rest of your family, have been going through such a rough patch. I’m so glad she’s getting the help and support she needs and hope the rest of your family will as well. Approximately ten years ago my family went through a similar situation with my brother. I’m glad to report that he is doing wonderfully now and I have high hopes that your daughter will also.

I look forward to reading your entries and will be back to visit your blog again soon.
Take care,
~Paulette~

Janet

This cake looks amazing! Maybe one day I will give it a go!
The past year we have gone through a similar time with our beloved daughter. Thankfully, she is doing so much better now. Praying for healing for your precious daughter and your entire family. May you have much joy ahead.

Pam

Saw that incredible cake on Huffpost and found my way to your blog. May the new year see your daughter and your whole family making great progress. All the best.

Stephanie Knight

Good Morning Michele,

I am excited about this recipe. After spend a few weeks in Paris, Provence, Nimes and Nice this summer with my daughter, I have tasted some of the best crepes whether off the street near Notre Dame or in a a sidewalk cafe in Nice.

Yours, however, looks like nothing I have seen in my travels!

I will also keep you in my prayers. I am well versed in depression and the trials and tribulations of the disease. There is no need to hide and be shameful about it. I mean we are not shameful about heart disease, cancer or diabetes. You being honest in your blog and being open, allows the people who care to give you a lot of love, support and of course prayers. I truly believe we serve a God who is loving and wants to see us whole. Bless your daughter and your family, I pray this Christmas finds you all in a better place!
Much love,
Steph Knight